The Keys, and Marathon...

[VA_Traveller Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close VA_Traveller]

Anyone been there? What is there to do, tourist wise. My wife enjoys shopping, tours, history..maybe 1 day at the beach..Me, 7 days away from work, its all good.


is this somewhere we should look @ going?

[bfdretired Member Find all posts View Profile Close bfdretired]

marathon visit

we visited marathon two years ago in january.....what can i say beautiful....sun and warm every day.....resort is cozy and friendly....iits about 45min to key west very pretty drive....fishing charters right next to resort....i am not a shopper but my wife didnt have any problem....rooms were nice we didnt have a water view but were still satisfied {next time we will have a view}....almost for got great tiki bar good food everyone very pleasant.....

good luck on you visit hope some of this helps........john

[Tom in GA Member Find all posts View Profile Close Tom in GA]

Don't Forget Flipper

Do not miss going the Grassy Key (about 10 miles north) to visit the dolphin research center. It is fun and educational for the entire family....and these are the actual descendants of Flipper and friends. Also, visit Sparky's Landing at Key Colony Beach ( about 5-7 miles north) for a great meal...shrimp and fish tacos were great. Key West is always a fun place to visit. Do not miss Mel Fisher's Atocha Museum....wonderful artifacts from the treasure ship.

[crwisconsin Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close crwisconsin]

Me, 7 days away from work, its all good. is this somewhere we should look @ going?

I like Marathon for a laid back vacation. Warm and sunny. Pool is almost empty until around 4 pm when people return from trips. It really isn't crowded even then. Or just lay back in a hammock and read a good book. Food is very good at the Tiki Bar. Drinks are just OK. The turtle hospital is just up the road. If you like sea life, you can walk portions of the old 7 mile bridge. We saw sea turtles, rays, a hammer head shark, and lots of fish last week.

Charles

[Aashlee Member Find all posts View Profile Close Aashlee]

If you're flying into Miami and driving down, for your shop-a-holic wife, may I recommend Captain's Imports at 99150 Overseas Highway in Key Largo. Website: Captain's Imports. It's a really fun place, and it's right next to Su Casa, a reasonably priced Cuban restaurant with pretty decent food. Be sure to look for Mile Marker 99.2, and turn bayside.

The two places are a nice stop if you're trying to kill time before the 3 p.m. check-in at the Hammocks.

Also highly recommended is Crane Point, which is a combination museum, nature trails, and historic site, not too far away from the Hammocks. For info: Crane Point Museum - Nature Center - Historic Sites.

[ecwinch Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close ecwinch]

is this somewhere we should look @ going?

Everyone should go to the keys at least once. It is a very unique corner of the US, with small narrow islands surrounded by blue green ocean. Great place to ride bikes.

Think about taking a day-tour out to the Dry Tortugas. It is not cheap ($125 each), but is a unique experience, particularly if you like history. It is one of the most remote National Parks in the US. And Key West is full of history and musuems - Ernest Hemingway house, Shipwreck Musuem, Custom House, Little White House (vacation retreat used by Harry S Truman before Camp David was built), and Audabon House, to name a few.

Duvall street (Key West) is a must do also, with a lot of live music. If you decide to visit Duvall (and do it right), you should know that Key West Transit has bus service between Key West and Marathon, and it runs fairly late.

Key West is also a cruise ship port, so there are the typical shops you find in those ports.